Letting 4 year old come running with me at 6.30am?

[Giraffeantics]

Early morning runner. 4 year old wants to start coming with me at 6.30am on his bike. Feels wrong given it is dark and he is so young. Am I being unreasonable if let him join me? I would obviously reduce distance covered and only let him.join occasionally and wear a high vis. He has always been an early riser and is awake by 6am each day. Hm..... help!

If it's on the pavement then only if it's wide, flat and you know he will stay by you (I.e. not zoom ahead and across roads in the dark).

If it's in a park, go for it! Great idea. DS(6) comes out with me, but only off road, with a phone and DH knowing our route.

I have three sons and two of the three are mega early risers… and they wake up ready to take on the world! And both are at school too and nothings changed - the good thing is they both sleep well and are out nice and early too 🤣

i’d definitely take them with me - I always feel like I don’t see them enough. This seems like a lovely activity to do together x

Of course it is fine, if it is safe for you to be out at 6.30 then it is safe for you to be out with your 4 year old. Mine used to join me at that time for a morning walk or cycle. She loved the treat of being out in the world when it was quiet. She also got all the early morning dog walkers smiling at her. Take your 4 year old out with you, before too long they will be 14 and not wanting to get up at 6.30 , enjoy these special times.

Exactly! I grew up in Scandinavia and if we didn’t go out when it’s dark in winter we’d never be out! Us and our neighbours played outside in the dark as 8 year olds with our parents indoors, although we were lucky to live in a really safe, quiet area. But even then, when we walked to school aged 8-9, it was always dark in the mornings for a few months in winter. We were probably a lot safer than kids here in the U.K., because no one here seems to wear anything reflective at all and mostly just black jackets, whereas we were forced to wear reflectors from very early on.

Why not!? It’s great he wants to join you. If it’s not an unsafe area/ along a super busy road and he has helmet/ lights/ high vis etc.

@Cottontail8 I did too and it’s exactly like you said, we played outside on our own, in the dark, in the early mornings and afternoons. We walked to school alone when we were around 8 years old too. Tbf I wouldn’t let my kids do it here though, I feel it is ( maybe was!) much safer in Scandinavia.

Try it!

You would have overwhelming safety worries to be able to enjoy your run. You would come back feeling emotionally drained, and once you allow it you would find it hard to clamp down if you had concerns about allowing it again.

Wouldn't it be safer than going out at say 8:30am with all the school and work traffic??!!

Do it! Only got a little while till it’s getting light at 6am. As long as he has all the safety gear how wonderful he wants to go and do that with you. Lovely bonding time that will eventually lead to him running with you. Health habit and great time to spend together

If you have overwhelming safety worries, you need to get some professional help. When did taking your DC out with you on his bike become such a big issue. We did it around the roads and parks in London and everyone enjoyed it

I did a couple of runs with my DD on bike and it was fine (she's older to be honest) but I did find it distracting making sure she was safe all the time rather than focussing on the run

Sounds like a great idea, one day he could be running with you. Or he’ll get fed up being out at that time of the morning. Either way it’s worth a go!

Pavement or park yes. Road no. I’m a cyclist and an adult and don’t feel particularly safe on roads in the dark.

Absolutely take him just pick a suitable route minimal rd crossing and good paths

at that time in the morning there’ll hardly be anyone about making it far easier

the amount of people saying no to exercise it’s no wonder there’s a health and obesity crisis

Wow, that's stupendously impressive stamina for a kid that's just turned 4!

I'd let him cycle on the pavements / park, but not if I was road running... I wouldn't trust a 4 year old cycling on the road whatever time of day it was.

You need to do your own risk assessment OP - not rely on mumsnet.

Child cycling on a path, in a quiet area with lights on? Fine - why wouldn't you.

Country lane road with no lighting and the speed limit 60? No.

This thread does show how much the car has taken over our roads and that means us.

We cannot even go outside with our kids without fear of being run over.

Hardly surprising then that we & our kids are the fattest in Europe.

To be honest, I would struggle to keep up with my daughter so that would be my worry - not the actual fact that she was with me. I don’t know what he’s like but if you practise and make it clear where you need him to be, how far ahead he is allowed to be etc. I think it should be absolutely fine and really bonding, good for his listening skills and fun! Enjoy! Xx

This.

Also, MN does have a contingent who are the most risk averse people imaginable, who would literally wrap their children in cotton wool if they could.

My kids have often done this, since they were babies. When they were very small if they woke up super early I'd shove them in the carrier when I went for an early morning walk or the buggy if I wanted to run. They often fell back asleep. Now they're a bit bigger they walk the dog with me early if they're up. I don't see the difference between that and your DC coming out on his bike.

I'm an early riser and like exercising first thing, I don't find it surprising that my kids are the same!

Why do you run? For fitness and headspace, can you achieve that whilst supervising a 4 year old?
I can't even supervise my dog out running, he trips me up!

We just viewed a house which was nextdoor to a primary school, I bet it's lovely hearing all the kids milling about in a morning
Not when you have just finished a night shift and you are trying to get to sleep. They don't just ' mill' around. They shriek and shout.
If you're viewing a house next yo a primary don't forget you will have virtually no chance of leaving or returning easily at the beginning and end of school day. I've learnt this through bitter experience!!!

We have a family member who did that and I think the child was 4yrs too.
They went on very safe cycling routes with him and because it was just the two of them they could just chat while doing the running/cycling. He loved the attention from his Mum so his behaviour changed positively.
Give it a go and see how you get on with it. Good luck